#AIinMedicine

Two leading computer scientists have captured global recognition for innovative breakthroughs that are now shaping the future of technology and health. At this year’s IEEE Vision Innovation Challenges Summit in Tokyo, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) honored a retired IBM Research scientist and an MIT professor with its prestigious medals for applying unexpected methods that have redefined core areas in computer science, cryptography, and medicine (research.ibm.com).

This development resonates far beyond the international scientific community—it carries timely lessons for Thailand, inspiring researchers and policymakers to advance cross-disciplinary approaches in technology and healthcare.

In a milestone that challenges decades-old scientific assumptions, an international team of researchers has created the world’s most detailed three-dimensional map of a mammalian brain—from a mere speck of mouse tissue. This stunning achievement not only redefines what’s possible in neuroscience but holds the potential to transform how we study and tackle complex neurological diseases, offering new hope for brain health advances both globally and in Thailand (CNN, 2025).

For Thai readers, this breakthrough matters because the brain disorders examined—such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s—are increasingly prevalent in our rapidly aging society. A deeper understanding of the brain’s “wiring” can ultimately shape better treatments, inspire new research collaborations, and improve quality of life for millions of Thais facing brain-related illnesses. With Thailand’s medical research sector aspiring to world-class status, the implications of this advancement could influence both policy and local innovation.

Imagine the heartbreak of watching a loved one slip into a coma—a state where the body survives but the person seems lost in a world out of reach. For many Thai families, the agony of disorders of consciousness is all too real, with loved ones trapped in hospital beds, unable to move, speak, or respond. Now, new research led by neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Toker at UCLA is pushing the boundaries of medical science, offering a glimmer of hope that waking up from a coma might one day move from miracle to medical possibility. His work, recently profiled in Big Think, explores how cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), brain models, and an unexpected diabetes medication could hold the key to unlocking consciousness for those “locked inside” by severe brain injuries (source: Big Think).